Page 26 - Jewish News_February-2021

26A February 2021 ISRAEL & THE JEWISH WORLD

New FIDF CEO: The more you know us,

the more you’ll want to join us

By Alan Rosenbaum
“ I was established in 1981 by a group of social justice than military activities.” next 60 years of their lives.”
spent the past 30 years trying
to build American Jewry,” says
Weil cites two other educational
Weil points with pride to a number
Holocaust survivors and operates 25
Steven Weil. “Now, I have the
transform IDF soldiers in a positive
ples of the groundbreaking work that
opportunity to have a small – but sig- regional offices in the United States of FIDF programs that are helping to programs that FIDF sponsors as exam-
and Panama, with headquarters in New
nificant – hand in building the future York City. It is the single organization and meaningful way. FIDF’s IMPACT the organization is doing on behalf of
of Israeli society.” Weil, the newly ap- authorized to represent the IDF sol- Scholarship program is tailored for for- IDF soldiers and their communities.
pointed National Director and Chief diers across the United States and Pan- mer combat soldiers who come from One, called the “Formal Education”
Executive Officer of Friends of the Is- ama, as designated by Lt. Gen. (Res.) lower socio-economic backgrounds program, allows soldiers who were
rael Defense Forces (FIDF), enjoyed Gadi Eizenkot, IDF Chief of the Gen- and enables them to achieve their previously unable to attain 12 years
a long and distinguished career as a eral Staff, in March dreams of higher ed- of education or a high school degree
prominent educator, pulpit rabbi and, 2017, and again by Lt. ucation. The program to pursue an educational equivalent
most recently, Senior Managing Direc- Gen. Aviv Kochavi, also provides funds to while performing military service.
tor of the Orthodox Union before join- IDF Chief of the Gen- cover soldiers’ living FIDF seeks to increase opportunities
ing FIDF in September. eral Staff, in February expenses while they for these soldiers to reenter civilian life
Articulate, polite and self-effacing, 2019. Today, the orga- study and gives them on an even footing with their peers.
Weil sees similarities between the out- nization assists more the unique benefit of A second initiative, entitled “Proj-
reach that he performed in his previous than 118,000 soldiers direct contact with ect Overcome,” assists young Israeli
positions and the goals that he has set each year. their FIDF sponsors. citizens who struggle with emotional
for himself in his new post at FIDF. Weil wants to Since the pro- problems, addictions, low self-esteem
“At the Orthodox Union,” he notes, “a broaden the appeal gram’s founding in or lack of ambition, often exacerbated
great deal of what we did was engag- of FIDF beyond the 2002, FIDF has spon- by poverty and criminal backgrounds.
ing American Jewry, and the majority older generation that sored students from These youths were traditionally not
of those under the age of 50 are unaf- remembers the Six- 66 countries of origin, considered fit for service in the IDF
filiated Jews. One of my goals now for Day War of 1967 and studying at over 80 ac- and had few opportunities to gain suc-
FIDF going forward is to expand our the 1973 Yom Kippur Steven Weil ademic institutions in cessful employment. Through Project
core base and connect all of American War, when Israel’s very existence was Israel. With the success of the program, Overcome, at-risk youth can reform
Jewry – no matter their background, at stake, to a new generation of Amer- some 16,130 students and alumni are their behavior and gain tools and life
no matter where they are coming from ican Jews, who take the existence of a represented in nearly every field, and skills relevant for army service and
politically, religiously or otherwise – to State of Israel as a given. “Most Amer- dozens are now donors themselves. as professionals in the civilian mar-
the future of Israel through the lives of ican Jews are coming from a mindset “We’ve provided the opportunity ket. The program, which takes place
the soldiers.” of social justice and don’t necessarily for them, through the army, to tran- during the course of their IDF service,
FIDF is a non-political, non-mil- have a positive affiliation with the mil- scend the cycle of poverty,” says Weil. offers them a clean slate, a chance to
itary organization whose goal is to itary in general,” he notes. “The ac- “And, we’ve provided for them the op- discover exciting new capabilities in
provide sustainable solutions to all of tivities that FIDF supports within the portunity post-service, not only to give themselves, and a path to change their
Israel’s soldiers through social, edu- IDF,” says Weil, “will resonate with to Israel and the Jewish people three future. “This program gives them the
cational, financial, cultural and rec- the younger generation as these pro- years of military service, but to give opportunity to have self-worth and
reational programs and facilities. It grams are more closely aligned with to Israel and the Jewish people for the continued on next page
JFSM
JFSM ir t ual

Virtual
V

FEDERATION MAJOR EVENTS

2020–2021

FEDERATION MAJOR EVENTS 2021

FEBRUARY 4 FEBRUARY 11
MAJOR GIFTS PEOPLE OF THE BOOK

As Long as You’re Asking— Lynda Cohen Loigman • The Wartime Sisters
A Conversation with Jason Alexander

FEBRUARY 23
FEBRUARY 8 COMMUNITY LECTURE
PEOPLE OF THE BOOK Featuring Eli Beer, President & Founder,
Susan Jane Gilman • Donna Has Left United Hatzalah of Israel

the Building
FEBRUARY 28
FEBRUARY 9 SARASOTA JEWISH THEATER
PEOPLE OF THE BOOK Cherry Docs To register, visit

Rachel Barenbaum • A Bend in the Stars jfedsrq.org/events
MARCH 1 – MARCH 25
FEBRUARY 10 12 ANNUAL
TH
PEOPLE OF THE BOOK Mort Skirboll Jewish Film Festival
Meg Waite Clayton • The Last Train to London